Sampling device



April 9, 1963 A. VAN DOP 3,084,555

SAMPLING DEVICE INVENTORZ ADRIANUS VAN DOP BY; Hfuf His AGENT A. VAN DOPSAMPLING DEVICE April 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26, 1960INVENTOR:

United States Patent Oiitice 3,684,555 Patented Apr. 9, 1963 3,084,555SAMILING DEVECE Adrianus van Dop, Vlaardingen, Netherlands, assignor toShell Gil Company, New York, NSY., a corporation of Delaware Filed July26, 196i), Ser. No. 45,346

Claims priority, application Netherlands Sept. 4, 1959 1 Claim. (Cl.73-422) This invention relates toa sampling device and pertains moreparticularly to apparatus for drawing a sample of liquid from apipeline.

The invention is directed to an apparatus for drawing samples of liquidfrom a line consisting of a horizontal, rectangular line section, atleast one bushing which is positioned Itransversely and vertically inthe line section the bushing wall being provided with a slot-shapedopening extending in an axial direction, of a plug arranged rotatably inthe bushing and provided with a liquid discharge channel and a.slot-shaped opening extending in an axial direction, and of means fordischarging liquid from the plug to a liquid collecting device.

An apparatus of lthis type is known from the U.S. Patent 2,736,201,issued February 28, 195 6, to R.v M. Ohlsen et al. In an apparatus ofthis type it is essential `for the ow pattern in the line to bedisturbed as little as possible when drawing the sample so that arepresentative sample is obtained.

The object of the invention is -to provide sampling apparatus which hasthe advantage lthat it enables a sample to be drawn, the analysis ofwhich gives the maximum amount of information about the composition ofthe liquid in the line.

The construction according to the invention is characterized in thatrthe wall of the bushing has two diametrical axial slots, and the plugis provided with a centra-l channel yand two diametrical axial slot-s orwith one axial slot extending between points situated diametrically onthe circumference of the plug, channels being present in the plug and`in the bushing which are so arranged that in the position of the plugin -which the slots of the bushing and plug coincide the liquid -fromthe line section can continue its course practically withoutobstruction, whereas in a position ofthe plug in which the slots do notcoincide, viz, when the supply of liquid from the line section to theinterior of the plug is cut oil, a liquid discharge from the interior ofthe plug to the liquid collecting device is released, communicationbetween the upper part of the plug interior and the atmosphere beingalso established.

To permit inspecn'on, cleaning or repairing of the plug and the channels-in the plug and the bushing while the line is in operation, use ispreferably made of a number of bushings which t tightly into each otherin such a way that they can only be rotated relatively to each otherround a common longitudinal .axis with Some difiiculty, at least one ofthe bushings being provided with means permitting such a relativerotation of the bushings that the slots are closed.

The apparatus according to the invention will now be discussed wit-hreference to the drawing showing an embodiment.

FIGURE 1 shows a longitudinal cross-section II-II taken -in the linesection and FIGURE 2 shows a crosssectional View I-I taken on the 'linesection.

The FIGURES 3 and 4 `show cross-sections III-III and IV-IV,respectively, of FIGURE 2.

A rectangular line section 1 is housed in a cylindrical section ofpipeline 2 to which it is secured by means of plates 8 and is internallyprovided with a bushing 3 which is rigidly connected to the linesection 1. The bushing 3 is provided with two axial slots 4 which arediametrically arranged in the wall of the bushing v3a. A second bushing5 is positioned in the bushing 3 and is provided at one end withanotched edge 6. The bushing 5 -is so positioned in bushing 3 as to berotatable round the common longitudinal axis relative to the xedbushings 3. This may be done with the aid of a suitable spanner orwrench fitting the notched edge 6 (FIGURE 2) of the bushing 5 Likewisethe bushing 5 is provided with two axial slots 7. During normal use thebushing 5 is in the position shown in the iigures, viz, in the positionin which the slots 4 and 7 are in register. A bushing `9 is inside thebushing 5. The bushing 9 is so secured as -to be incapable ot rotationround 4its -longitudinal axis. The wall of the bushing 9 is providedwith slots 10` which extend in an axial direction and are in registerwith the slots 7 in the bushing 5.

The bushing 9k is provided with a plug 12 which is rotatable relative tothe bushing 9. The plug 12 has a continuous axial slot 13. The top ofthe plug 12 has a square wrench head 15 by means of which the plug 12can be rotated. The plug 12 can be rotated by hand,

vfor instance by means of spanner fitting the square head 15, or Iby amotor, the shaft of which is connected to the plug 12. The lower part ofthe bushing 9 has an axial channel 16. The lower part of the plug 12 isprovided with a radial channel 17 which is in communication with acentral axialchannel 18l which is also provided in the plug 12. Thechannel 18 in turn communicates with a channel 19` in a cylindricalelement 20, which is screwed in the bushing 5. A hose or a line throughwhich the liquid sample can be discharged may be connected -to thenozzle 21 which is secured in the channel 19. The upper part of bushing9 is provided with an axial channel 23, which is in communication withthe atmosphere. The upper part of the bushing 9 is secured `at the topand locked against rotation by means of the nut 25 and the plate 26.

lf desired, the bushing 3 may be provided -on both sides of the slot-s 4with metal strips 27 (FIGURE 4) to ensure that the disturbance of theilow of liquid in line section 1 is reduced to a The apparatus operatesas follows.

When the plug 12 is in the position in which the slot 13 is in registerwith the slots 10, 7 and 4, part of the liquid flowing through the linesection 1 will be able to pass freely through the slots 4, 7, 10, 13,10, 7 and 4. The liquid then ows in the direction as indicated by thearrow 28 (see FIGURE 4).

If it is desired to take a sample, the plug 12 is rotated eithermanually or mechanical-ly to the position shown in Ithe figures. Aquantity of liquid remains in the slot 13 and since the channel 16 inthe relative position of the plug 12 is in register with the slot 13,the liquid can llow away from the slot 13 to a collecting vessel (notshown) through the channels 16, 17, 18, 19, lthe nozzle 21 and the lineconnected thereto (not shown). Since in the said position of the plug 12the channel 23 establishes cornrnunication between the slot 13 and theatmosphere the liquid will readily ow to the collecting vessel.

The channel 23 and the channel 16 are so positioned relative to eachother that rotation of lthe plug 12 will establish communication betweenthe slot 13 and the channel 16 before the slot 13 communicates with thechannel 23. This is essential to ensure that the pressure in the slot 13is released before the slot 13 is brought into communication with `theatmosphere through the channel 23.

The composition of the liquid in the collecting vessel may be analyzedso as to gain information on the composition of the liquid owing throughthe line. The plug 12 may be continuously or intermittently driven,preferably by means o an electric motor. In this way a sample of theliquid can be automatically drawn from the line at predeterminedintervals. Analysis of the samples drawn enables the composition of theliquid in the line to be determined at any time. The apparatus describedhas the advantage `that the sample can be isolated and drawn Without theflow pattern of the liquid in the line being greatly disturbed. A greatadvantage is that thecomposition of the liquid `of the sample is`closely representative of the composition of the liquid in the line.

The apparatus according to the invention is particularly intended foruse in large diameter pipelines (60 cm.) for the transport of crude oilover long distances, for instance from Ia pont of entry to a number ofrefineries situated inland. Since the amounts due for crude oil pumpedinto the line near the portv of entry have to be settled with theconsumers at the other end of the line it is important that thepercentage of water in the crude oil owing through the line should bedetermined as accurately as possible. The apparatus according to theinvention confirms to this requirement `and renders the use of settlingtanks unnecessary.

The bushing 5 may be rotated in such a Way around its longitudinal taxisby means of a Spanner iitting the notched edge 6 provided at the end ofthe bushing 5 that the slots 4 and 7 are no longer in register Wtih eachother. This has the advantage Ithat the bushing 9 and the plug 12 may bedismounted, for instance for inspection, cleaning and repairs, While the-line remains in operation.

I claim as my invention:

An apparatus for withdrawing a `sample from liquid flowing through apipeline comprising a ir'st bushing xed to and extending transverselythrough the pipeline, said bushing having diametrically-disposed slotsthrough the walls thereof;

a second bushing rotatably disposed within said iirst bushing, saidsecond bushing Ihaving slots through the walls thereof adapted to alignwith the diametricallydisposed slots ofthe first bushing;

means connected to the `second bushing whereby said bushing may berotated within the iirst bushing;

a third bushing disposed within the second bushing and -l'ixed relativeto the irst bushing, said third bushing having 'slots through fthe Wallsthereof in alignment with the diametrically-disposed slots in the rstbush- 111g;

a plu-g rotatably disposed in the third bushing and having a slottherethrough adapted to be aligned with the slots in the third bushing,the ends of the slot in the bushing 4being adapted to communicate withthe outside of `the pipeline when said slot is out of alignment with theslots in the third bushing;

:and means connected to the plug whereby said plug may be rotated withinthe third bushing.

References Cited in the iile of lthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNewton Nov. 17, 1925 Ohlsen et al. Feb. 28, 1956 OTHER REFERENCES 30Dept of Interior, I.C. 7249, August 1943. (Copy in 73-

